GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recommended an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine for the immunocompromised people due to their more significant risk of breakthrough infections after standard immunisation.
The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation said the extra dose should be offered to the immunocompromised individuals as part of an extended primary series. The experts added that these people have been less likely to respond adequately to vaccination following a standard primary vaccine series, thus at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
The panel also said that people over 60 had performed less well over time or two to three months after receiving an additional dose of the Chinese shots, i.e., Sinovac and Sinopharm, citing evidence in studies in Latin America.
Health authorities using the Sinovac and Sinopharm shots in the older populations should aim first to maximise two-dose coverage and then administer the third dose, the panel added.
Dr Joachim Hombach, Secretary, SAGE, said, "We also know that the addition of a third dose or moving into a two-plus-one schedule provides a strong immune response. So we expect from there much better protection."
